Washing-machine



(No Model.)

Z. M. LINDLBY. WASHING MAGHINE.

Patnted Mall. 27', 1894.V

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1 gasses ZACI-IARY M. LINDLEY, OARTHAGE, MISSOURI.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of `Letters Patent No. 517,225, dated March 27, 1894.

Application led December 7,1893. Serial No. 493.035. (No model.) Y

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ZAGHARY M. LINDLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oarthage, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Washing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in washing machines.

The object of the present invention is to simplity and improve the construction of washing machines, and to provide one capable of rap idly and thoroughly effecting the operation of washing without wearing, tearing or otherwise injuring the fabrics.

A further object of the invention is to provide one which may be readily adjusted to suit the quantity of clothes being washed.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a 'washing machine constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion'of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the washing machine.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a rectangular washing machine body of any desired construction and provided on'the inner faces of its sides at a point intermediate of its ends with vertical ways 2, in which is arranged a vertically adjustable partition 3 slidingly mounted in said ways, and dividing the washing machine body into two compartments. The vertically adjustable partitiony 3 is designed to rest upon the clothes to be washed; it may be moved up or down to suit the quantity of clothes, and it has fulcrumed on it an oscillating lever 4,

to the ends of which are pivoted vertically reciprocating pounders or plungers 5, which force suds and hot Water and steam through the clothes being Washed, and thereby quickly remove the dirt and stains.

The cover 6 of the washing machine body is provided adjacent to its ends with openings 7,

to permit the reciprocation of the stems 8 of the pounders, which maybe of any desired construction, and the cover 6 is provided with a transverse opening 9 to afford a passage for the vertically adjustable partition 3. The partition is supported in an elevated position and at the desired adjustment, to prevent too great pressure on the clothes during the operation of washing, and to keep the pounders from falling when taking clothes out or placing them in the washing machine, by hinged braces 10 arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the partition 3, and connected by transverse bars 11, and which serve as handles to enable the braces of each pair to be simultaneously lifted or otherwise adjusted by hand. rIfhe upper ends of the braces are connected by hinges 12 to the partition; and the lower ends of the braces are beveled and engage rack bars 13 mounted on the cover 6 and arranged in pairs at the ends thereof and located adjacent to the braces. Each rackbar 13 is provided with teeth shouldered at the inner end, and it is provided with side ianges 14 to prevent the lower end of a brace from moving laterally and becoming disengaged from a tooth. Instead of employing teeth, notchespr the like may be used. When the partition is raised the braces swing inward and automatically engage the teeth of the rack-bars. In order to prevent the braces from becoming accidentally disengaged from the rack-bars during the operation of Washing the vertically adjustable partition 3 is engaged by a clamping screw 15 mounted in a threaded perforation of the Washing machine body.

The washing machine is operated by a handle 16 having an inclined inner portion 17, which is bifurcated, and which is pivoted at 18 to one arm of the oscillating lever 4. The other arm of the oscillating lever is provided with an upwardly extending support or arm 19, which passes through an opening 20 of the handle 16, and which is provided with a series of perforations 21, any one of which may be engaged by a screw, pin, or other fas= tening device 22 to enable the handle to be secured at any desired adjustment. By this construction the handle may be arranged at the desired elevation to suit a tall or short IOO person, or to enable the machine to be operated on the ioor or other support or on the stove.

The stems 8 of the pounders are of a length to bring the pounders afew inches above the bottom of the vertically adjustable partition, which rests upon the clothes to be washed; and by this arrangement, whatever may be the adjustment of the partition the pounders are always in proper operative position.

`It will be seen that the washing machine is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction,that it is positive and reliable in its operation, that it is capable of thoroughly and rapidly washing clothes without injuring the fabrics, and that it may be readily adjusted to suit the quantity of clothes to be washed.

Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any ot the advantages of this invention.

l. In a washing machine, the combination of a body, a vertically adjustable partition mounted in the body, a lever fulcrumed on the partition and extending from opposite sides thereof, pounders pivotally connected to the leverand arranged on opposite sides of the partition, braces hingedly connected at their upper ends with the partition and arranged on opposite sides of the same, and rack bars mounted on the body and engaged by the braces, whereby the partition is supported at the desired elevation, substantially as described.

2. In a washing machine, the combination of a body, a vertically adjustable partition mounted in the body, a lever fulcrumed on the partition and extending from opposite sides thereof, pounders pivotally connected to the lever and arranged on opposite sides of the partition, braces hingedly connected at their upper ends with the partition and arranged on opposite sides of`the same, rack bars mounted on the body and engaged by the braces, whereby the partition is supported at the desired elevation, and a clamping screw mounted on tlre body and engaging the partition, substantially as described.

3. In a washing machine, the combination of a body, a partition mounted therein, a 1ever fulcrumed on the partition and extending from opposite sides thereof and provided at one side of the fulcrum point with an upward extending arm, pounders arranged on opposite sides of the casing and pivotally connected to the lever, and a handle pivoted to the oscillating lever on one side of the fulcruln point and adjustably secured to the arm at the other side of the fulcrum point, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ZACI-IARY M. LINDLEY.

Vitnesses:

JOHN I-I. SIcGERs, E. G. SIGGERS. 

